Tool

ABSTRACT

A tool includes a force-producing device having at least one inflatable member of hose-like shape sinuously disposed in loops within subdivisions of a frame member having a plurality of mutually spaced transverse walls subdividing the same into subdivisions. An opposing frame member subdivided by a plurality of mutually spaced transverse walls, the respective transverse walls of said frame members alternately disposed in the free space of said subdivisions, the hose-like member being inflatable to displace the frame members relative to one another. Another inflatable member to displace the frame members in an opposite direction. Inserts for the hose-like member to prevent its blockage. Pressure-tightly closed ends provided on the inflatable member. Retainer means for securing the inflatable member in the tool. The tool may be used as a vise, pliers, tongs claws and the like.

nited States Patent 11 1 1111 3,

Hirmann 5] Dec. 9, 1975 1 TOOL 3,122,118 2/1964 Cooper 269/139 [75] Inventor: Georg H rmann Zurich 3,172,166 3/1965 Imbrecht 254/93 HP 8 "t2 1 W1 er and Primary ExaminerRoy Lake [73] Assrgnee: Repapress AG, Romanshom, Assistant ExaminerNeil Abrams Switzerland [22] Filed: Mar. 11, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 450,193

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 9, 1973 Switzerland 3498/73 [52] US. Cl. 269/20; 81/43; 92/92; 100/269 A; 254/93 HP [51] Int. Cl. B253 l/18 [58] Field of Search 269/20, 22; 100/269 A; 254/93 HP; 144/281 A; 150/9; 92/92 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,500,363 3/1950 Koeppel 150/3 2,520,467 8/1950 Merralls 150/3 2,522,659 9/1950 Anderson.... 269/107 X 2,546,596 3/1951 Haines, Sr 92/92 X 2,720,735 10/1955 Ruehl et a1. 279/4 X 2,804,118 8/1957 Bayerkohler 254/93 HP Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Herbert -L. Lerner 7] ABSTRACT A tool includes a force-producing device having at least one inflatable member of hose-like shape sinuously disposed in loops within subdivisions of a frame member having a plurality of mutually spaced transverse walls subdividing the same into subdivisions. An opposing frame member subdivided by a plurality of mutually spaced transverse walls, the respective transverse walls of said frame members alternately disposed in the free space of said subdivisions, the hose-like member being inflatable to displace the frame members relative to one another. Another inflatable member to displace the frame members in an opposite direction. Inserts for the hose-like member to prevent its blockage. Pressure-tightly closed ends provided on the inflatable member. Retainer means for securing the inflatable member in the tool. The tool may be used as a vise, pliers, tongs claws and the like.

10 Claims, 27 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec.9,1975- Sheet2of8 3,924,843

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FIG. A

FIGS

Patent Dec. 9, 1975 shears 0f8 3,924,843

US. Patent 1130.9, 1975 Sheet40f8 3,924,843

FIG. 13

FIGJG FIG.17

v Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet5of8 3,924,843

FIG 22 FIG. 23

Sheet 7 of 8 US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 8 of8 3,924,843

mm OE TOOL The invention relates to a tool.

l-leretofore known tools are either manually or machine-actuated and are therefore either greatly limited in the range of their use because of the limits of human force that is applicable or, with motorized drives, are of complex construction and therefore immovable and susceptible to trouble.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tool that is of simple construction but nevertheless utilizable in broad ranges of use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a tool comprising a force-producing device having at least one inflatable member.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in the tool, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section taken along the line H in FIG. 3 of a pneumatic multiple thrust producing unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line [HI and rotated through 90, the thrust producing unit of the invention being shown partly broken away and with an additional vise structure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view on reduced scale of the thrust producing unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vise actuable by the multiple thrust producing unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic, perspective view, partly in section and partly broken away of a folding or bending press provided with the pneumatic multiple thrust producing unit of the invention;

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a section of a twisted or sinuous hose or tube having flat bends therein for use in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6b is a perspective view, partly broken away of a profile retaining insert forming part of the sinuous hose of FIG. 6a;

FIG. '7 is an exploded perspective view of members forming a substantially flat or planar closure of the ends of the hose of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partly in section and partly broken away of a closed or tied off hose end;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal view at reduced scale of a hose tied off at both ends thereof by flat closure members and serving as thrust member between two plates shown in section;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a flat closure member according to FIG. 7 modified to include a pressure fluid supply inlet tube;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view on reduced scale of a flat hose tied off at an end thereof with the flat closure member and supply inlet tube of FIG. 10;

ing to the invention with an eye or lug and a projection for retaining the hose on flat and curved supporting surfaces;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to that of FIG. 16 of a hose with eyes on both sides thereof for retaining the hose on two curved supporting surfaces;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a hose end with guide rails or strips;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to that of FIG. 18 of a hose end with guide grooves;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of clippers or pliers which, according to the invention, have a hose-shaped thrust member subjectible to'a pressure medium, and an elastic restoring clip;

FIG. 21 is a perspective exploded view of the clippers or pliers of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a perspective exploded view of blank riveting tongs constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view of an assembled embodiment of the blank riveting tongs of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a perspective exploded view of a double lever clamping claw according to the invention;

FIG. 25 is a perspective exploded view of a single lever clamping claw according to the invention; and

FIG. 26 is a longitudinal sectional view of an assembled embodiment of the single lever clamping claw of FIG. 25.

Referring now to the drawing and first, particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3 thereof, there is shown therein a housing 1 with two lateral guide walls 3 and a rear wall 5, as well as transverse wall 7 extending parallel to the rear wall 5 and disposed at uniform spacing one from the other over the length of the housing 1. Both guide walls 3 are formed with semicircular cylindrical grooves 9. Each of the guide walls 3 is also provided with a connector nipple 11, 12. One of the guide walls 3 is furthermore formed with a recess 13 as well as a threaded bore 14 communicating with the recess 13. In FIG. 1, there is shown a sinuous hose 16 which. is disposed in the compartments formed between the: transverse walls 7 and extends within the cylindrical grooves 9 from one compartment to the other. Detached from the housing 1 is a slidable cover member 18 which is suitably guided in the guide walls 3. The cover member 18 is provided with a front wall 20 and, analogous to the housing 1, is provided with transverse walls 22 mutually spacedapart equal distances which correspond to the spacing between the transverse walls 7 of the housing 1. In actuating condition, the cover member 18 is located on top of the housing 1 and both are relatively movable a distance commensurate with the spacing between the respective transverse walls 7 and 22 thereof, as well as commensurate with the thickness of those walls, as shown in FIG. 1. Respective lengths of the sinuous hose 16 that act as operating bellows 24 are disposed between two respective adjacent transverse walls 7. They are limited or bounded respectively on the one side by a transverse wall 7 of the housing 1 and on the opposing side by a transverse wall 22 of the cover member 18. In one compartment between two transverse walls 7 which is subdivided by a transverse wall 22, there are located not only one operating bellows 24 but also a restoring bellows 25 which is connected to a nipple 12, while the one end of the sinuous hose 16 is connected to the nipple 11. The other end of the continuous, sinuous hose 16 extends into the recess 13 and is retained therein by a non-illustrated threaded pin or set screw which is threadedly secured in the threaded bore 14.

If the cover member 8 is to be slid relative to the housing 1, for example, in opposition to a great external resistance, a pressure medium, such as compressed air, pressure oil or water under pressure, for example, is fed through the nipple 11 to the sinuous hose 16 which accordingly expands the hose at the operating bellows sections 24 thereof so that the latter exert a force commensurate with the pressure and the bearing or contact surface of the bellows 24 on the transverse walls 7 and 22 which confine the respective bellows 24, and tend to slide the respective transverse walls 7 and 22 away from one another. Each bellows 24 exerts an equal force on the respective transverse walls 7 and 22 which limit or confine it, so that the cover member 18 tends to be displaced relative to the housing 1 by a force applied to both the housing 1 and the cover member 18 which is proportional to the number of bellows 24 and to the prevailing pressure of the working pressure medium. In this manner, a very great force is produced in an extremely small space. In order to restore the housing 1 and the cover member 18 to their starting positions, the sinuous hose 16 e.g. the operating bellows 24 are depressurized, and pressure medium is then fed through the nipple 12 into the restoring bellows 25. The latter, as shown in FIG. 1, acts in the opposite direction and slides the cover member 18 on and along the housing 1 back in a direction opposite the preceding direction of displacement thereof.

In FIG. 2 there is shown diagrammatically how, by suitably constructing the ends of the housing 1 and the cover member 18 as clamping jaws 26 and 27, the resulting structure can be used as a clamp or tongs or a vrse.

There is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4, the application of a multiple thrust producing member, such as that shown in FIG. I, in a vise 29 of conventional type. The vise 29 has two clamping jaws 30, the support member of one of the jaws 30 corresponding to the housing 31 and the support member for the other jaw corresponding to the slidable cover member 32. An operating hose 33 is sinuously disposed so that respective bellows portions thereof are located between adjacent transverse walls of the housing 31 and the cover member 32. By suitably pressurizing the operating hose 33, the housing 31 and the cover member 32 and, accordingly, the clamping jaws 30, are slid toward one another so as to hold fast a workpiece between the clamping jaws 30 with relatively large force.

Depending upon the expansions or elongations of the workpiece that is to be processed or machined and to be clamped tight, the cover member 32 can be brought into another starting position with respect to the housing 31, by raising and sliding. In this way, it is possible to accommodate the starting position of the housing and the cover member to the particular prevailing conditions, which demonstrates the great flexibility and adaptability of such multiple thrust-producing units of the invention.

In FIG. 5, there is shown a bending or folding press 34 having an upper fixed jaw 36 and a lower, displaceable jaw 37 which is guided in a stationary member 39. The displaceable jaw 37 is furnished with a multiple thrust-producing member according to the invention. The housing of the invention is formed by the stationary member 39 with transverse walls 40 thereof, while the cover member of the invention is provided by the displaceable jaw 37 and the transverse walls 42 thereof. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, there is further provided a suitable sinuous hose in accordance with the invention, of which the operating bellows 44 are clearly shown. Actuation of the bending or folding press 34 and adjustment thereof to the thickness of the object that is to be bent or folded is effected in a manner analogous to that described hereinbefore with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4. In this way, as aforementioned, through addition of the individual forces, exceptionally high resultant or combined forces are capable of being produced with a minimum of construction space, the intensity of the resultant forces depending upon the number of operating bellows, the contact area thereof and the particular pressure of the working or pressure medium.

In FIG. 6a there is shown part of a hose 46 having arcuate portions 47 and 48 such as are provided in the sinuous hose 16 of FIG. 1. To prevent closure of the hose at the arcuate portions 47 and 48 thereof due to the occurrence of compressive and tensile stresses therein when the sinuous hose is supplied with pressure medium, so-called spacer inserts, constructed for example as elastic or resilient formed or profiled inserts 50 (FIG. 6b) are introduced into the hose. The inserts 50 prevent the hose from fully flapping together in bends and assure proper functioning of the operating and restoring bellows by the fact that they reliably afford passage for the pressure medium. With such pressure medium-actuated thrust producing members that are formed with the aid of hoses, an exceptionally vitaland exacting sealing problem is produced when closing or tying off the ends of the hose. FIG. 7 shows in perspective view a flat hose closure device 53 that is made up of a cap 54 and a deformable filling body 56 which, if formed of elastic material, is provided with sealing lips 57.

FIG. 8 illustrates a hose end 59 which is tied or closed off by a flat hose closure member 53. For this purpose, a filling body 62 is slid into the interior of the hose end 59, and a corresponding cap 61 is slipped over the hose end 59 so that the filling body 62 is disposed between the walls of the hose end 59 and within the cap 61. Then the thus assembled members are compressed or pinched together as shown in FIG. 8. When the hose is then pressurized with working medium, it expands the filling body 62 and presses it against the thus held hose end 59 and the cap 61. The higher the working medium pressure, the stronger do the walls of the filling body 62 press against hose end 59 and the better the sealing.

Such a flat closure according to the invention affords the advantage over a round closure that when using the hose as a thrust-producing member between two supporting walls 64 and 65 the entire length thereof is effective, whereas in the case of round closures, a considerable part of both ends cannot be effective and either requires the supporting walls 64 and 65 to be bent upwardly at the ends thereof or requires narrower supporting walls and accordingly smaller operating or working areas for the same length of the thrust member 7 nut wrenches or pliers and plug or stopper wrenches as well as fastening or stapling pliers or tongs can be produced. All of the foregoing are thereby believed to be well within the scope of the invention of this application.

A further range of utility of the invention of this application is in stationary assemblable, tong-like presses, shears, pulse welding pliers or tongs, pliers-like sheet metal or wire feeding devices and the like. The control of such tongs or pliers may be effected by means of built-in three-way valves, and mechanically actuable, by foot actuation or by control switches constructed at the handle and that are for example, magnetically actuable.

Iclaim:

1. Tool comprising a force-producing device having an inflatable member of hose-like shape, a frame member having plurality of mutually spaced transverse walls subdividing the same, said hose-like inflatable member being sinuously disposed in loops within the subdivisions of said frame, and an opposing frame member having an inner space subdivided by a plurality of mutually spaced transverse walls, said transverse walls of said opposing frame member being fitted in said subdivisions defined by said transverse walls of said firstmentioned frame member, said frame members being mutually superposed with the respective transverse walls thereof altematingly disposed in the free space of said subdivisions, said inflatable hose-like member being inflatable so as to displace said frame members relative to one another in given direction.

2. Tool according to claim 1 including another inflatable member disposed in one of the subdivisions and inflatable so as to displace said frame members relative 8 to one another in direction opposite to said given direction and back to the initial relative position thereof.

3. Tool according to claim 1 wherein said frame members are provided with respective clamping jaws forming a vise.

4. Tool according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable hose-like member is provided in said loops thereof with inserts having a profiled cross section so as to prevent pressing together of the wall of said hose-like member and blockage of the free passage cross section thereof.

5. Tool according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable member comprises a hose having pressure-tightly closed ends.

6. Tool according to claim 5 wherein said hose ends are closed by a cap respectively extending over said hose ends and by a respective corresponding removable, unattached elastic body received in the interior of said hose, said cap having a crimp therein formlocking both said cap and said elastic body with said hose.

7. Tool according to claim 1 including means for securely retaining said inflatable member in the tool.

8. Tool according to claim 7 wherein said retaining means is a holder member, and including another member cooperating with said holder member for securing said inflatable member in the tool, one of said members comprising a pin and the other formed with an eye wherein said pin is receivable.

9. Tool according to claim 7 wherein said retaining means is a holder member, and including another member cooperating with said holder member for securing said inflatable member in the tool, one of said members comprising a ledge and the other formed with a groove wherein said ledge is receivable.

10. Tool according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable member is formed of elastic profile material. 

1. Tool comprising a force-producing device having an inflatable member of hose-like shape, a frame member having plurality of mutually spaced transverse walls subdividing the same, said hoselike inflatable member being sinuously disposed in loops within the subdivisions of said frame, and an opposing frame member having an inner space subdivided by a plurality of mutually spaced transverse walls, said transverse walls of said opposing frame member being fitted in said subdivisions defined by said transverse walls of said first-mentioned frame member, said frame members being mutually superposed with the respective transverse walls thereof alternatingly disposed in the free space of said subdivisions, said inflatable hose-like member being inflatable so as to displace said frame members relative to one another in given direction.
 2. Tool according to claim 1 including another inflatable member disposed in one of the subdivisions and inflatable so as to displace said frame members relative to one another in direction opposite to saId given direction and back to the initial relative position thereof.
 3. Tool according to claim 1 wherein said frame members are provided with respective clamping jaws forming a vise.
 4. Tool according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable hose-like member is provided in said loops thereof with inserts having a profiled cross section so as to prevent pressing together of the wall of said hose-like member and blockage of the free passage cross section thereof.
 5. Tool according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable member comprises a hose having pressure-tightly closed ends.
 6. Tool according to claim 5 wherein said hose ends are closed by a cap respectively extending over said hose ends and by a respective corresponding removable, unattached elastic body received in the interior of said hose, said cap having a crimp therein formlocking both said cap and said elastic body with said hose.
 7. Tool according to claim 1 including means for securely retaining said inflatable member in the tool.
 8. Tool according to claim 7 wherein said retaining means is a holder member, and including another member cooperating with said holder member for securing said inflatable member in the tool, one of said members comprising a pin and the other formed with an eye wherein said pin is receivable.
 9. Tool according to claim 7 wherein said retaining means is a holder member, and including another member cooperating with said holder member for securing said inflatable member in the tool, one of said members comprising a ledge and the other formed with a groove wherein said ledge is receivable.
 10. Tool according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable member is formed of elastic profile material. 